DUSTIN TART

Dustin Tart is another Michigander to NC transplant. However, this transplant is returning to his hometown in a few weeks, transforming him from a Damn Yankee, back to Yankee. If you have roots in both places, does the Yankee label fit? Since Pontiac’s origin is in Michigan (i.e. Yankee country), perhaps that label disappears. Dustin grew up in Howell, Michigan and relocated to NC when he was 18. He has lived in the Triangle area for the majority of those years, but recently sold his home and will return to Michigan soon.

Dustin obviously has a passion for cars. Maybe that began as a newborn, with his car ride home from the hospital in his mom’s ’69 Firebird. His first muscle car was a 67 Firebird. Unfortunately the car was totaled in 1996. Two of his 5 classic cars are Pontiacs; a 1967 GTO and a 1970 GTO. The others are a 1949 Dodge Wayfarer, a 1970 Roadrunner, and a 1973 Challenger. He enjoys buying, rebuilding/repairing and selling classics, after driving them for a bit. He was able to drive the ’70 GTO (numbers matching 455, 4 speed) for the filming of a movie. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t complete production, so there won’t be a red carpet event for the THT folk to attend.

Dustin is an artist, primarily drawing with pencil and colored pencil. He’s quite talented and draws and sells his work at car shows. He completed an impressive piece for Scott Teiman of Supercar Specialties, in Michigan. And while Dustin is not a fan of the cloud and high tech computing, he is willing to share his artwork, just maybe not via email. His professional experience ranges from brick mason to tile work and even climbing cell towers. His latest work involves remodeling. One would expect that his artistic attention to detail would prove him to be successful in such endeavors.

Dustin enjoys travel, and has done so extensively in the US and abroad. He once spent St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. There are likely stories to be told from that adventure. Of all the places he’s visited, Munising, Michigan’s Pictured Rocks has been his favorite. If you haven’t been, you might ask Dustin for recommendations on the best time of year to visit and enjoy the area.

He enjoys fresh water fishing where Bass is his favorite to pursue. Dustin also hunts; primarily deer, rabbit and pheasant. If you’ve been at meetings, you might have been fortunate to meet Avalanche, his road dog. She’s a 9 year old mixed breed and still full of puppy energy.

Though he is returning to Michigan, Dustin intends to remain active in the club where he’s been a member for about 15 years. He has family here and his familial roots can be traced back to the Civil War, where a relative fought with the Swamp Fox in Whiteville, NC. We’re likely to see him at car shows, too.